Torpedo-expulsion tube.



No. 888,544. I PATENTED MAY 26, 1903.

L. SPEAR.

TORPEDO EXPULSION TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 1907. V

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APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 1907.

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LAWRENCE Y. SPEAR, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

TORPEDO-EXPULSION TUBE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE Y. SPEAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo Expulsion Tubes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to certain supplemental devices for use in connection with the revolving torpedo tube cap disclosed in the United States Letters Patent granted to I-Iugo E. Grieshaber 011 May 15th, 1906, No. 820,925, and it is intended to obviate certain troublesome conditions which are liable to occur when such revolving torpedo tube cap 'is used.

In the device of the patent above referred to both tubes are opened or closed by rotation of the cap through 90 degrees. When the cap is rotated to open the tubes both torpedoes may be ejected, and the 'cap may then be closed, the tubes cleared of water, and again loaded through their breeches. If, however, by any accident one of the torpedoes fails to clear the tube when an attempt is made to discharge it, it is then impossible 1 to close the other tube on account of the fact can be removed from the tube.

that the torpedo to which the accident has happened, prevents therotation of the cap. The spare torpedoes in the vessel are thereby rendered useless until the damaged torpedo This may mean a return to a shore station and the delay incident thereto, while if it were possible to close the other tube for the purpose of clearing it of water and reloading it, the spare torpedoes could be fired from that tube regardless of the fact that the other tube is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 10, 1907.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Serial No. 405,924.

showing the revolving torpedo tube cap in position to open the torpedo tubes. Fig. 4 is a view of the inboard end of the torpedo tubes, and the associatedmechanism, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 3 viewed in the direction of the arrows. scale on the line 66 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The hull A of the torpedo boat, having the superstructure A is closed at its forward end by a casting h secured to the plating of the hull and conforming to its shape. This casting supports the forward ends of two expulsion tubes 0 and c which are symmetrically arranged within the hull. Rigidly attached to the forward end of the hull and projecting beyond the casting 'h is a generally archshaped support or bracket g, the sides of which are open to permit the torpedoes to be discharged from the tubes without obstruction. The bracket g is shaped to conform to the general configuration of the hull and to afiord little or no obstruction to the forward movement of the boat.

Within the bracket g is a revoluble torpedo tube cap b which also conforms generally to the configuration of the hull and is secured to a longitudinal shaft d which is mounted between and parallel with the ex pulsion tubes 0 and c. Ihe forward end of this shaft is journaled in a bearing i in the forward end of the bracket g. The cap I) is provided with two covers j, each cover consisting of a forwardly dished plate mounted on the inside of the cap in such position as to close the forward end of the expulsion tubes when the cap is rotated to the closing position, and in order to insure a tight joint the annular gaskets e are provided surrounding the tube ends, which gaskets are engaged by annular flanges on the covers when the covers are brought into alinement with the tubes to close the same. The cap is also provided with two tubular discharge passages ]c and if which passages are displaced "90 degrees from the covers, so that when the cap is rotated through 90 degrees the dis-- charge passages k and 7c are in alinement with the expulsion tubes so that the torpedoes may be discharged.

The shaft d upon which the cap I) is mounted extends well inside the boat and may be operated by any desired means. In order to prevent undue wear on the gaskets e against which the covers seat, when the cap Fig. 6 is the section on an enlarged/ is moved to close and open the ends of the tube, and in order to afford a tight closure by these caps, the shaft (Z is capable of a slight reciprocatory motion, and to permit this, sufficient clearance is allowed between the cap b and the bracket g so that when said cap is to be turned the shaft (1 is moved slightly forward before rotating it, thereby releasing the covers from contact with the gaskets e. The shaft d is then rotated until the discharge passages 7e and is, come into alinement with the tubes 0 and c thus placing the apparatus in the firing position. After the torpedo has been expelled, the cap may be rotated to its former position and the covers securely seated against the gaskets e by the backward movement of the shaft (Z.

The parts so far described are substantially those of the Grieshaber patent, 820,925, above referred to, and it sometimes happens with this arrangement that a torpedo fails to clear its tube when an attempt is made to discharge it, with the result that it is impossible to close the other tube. For the purpose of overcoming this difliculty, I provide the further mechanism herein illustrated comprising a tube-closing plate 0 which is carried by a sleeve Z surrounding the shaft (1 and having bearings in a tube Z supported in the casting h and the bulkhead m. On the inboard side of the bulkhead m this sleeve Z carries a gear sector n which is splined on the sleeve and meshes with a companion sector (1 journaled in the bracket p and rotated by the handle 1'. A locking pin n extends through the sector n and into a socket in the bracket 1). Surrounding the sleeve Z, between the sector n and the bulkhead m is a sleeve 8 to which is attached the lower ends of the lever frame 8 pivoted on the bracket p. otatably mounted in the upper end of this lever frame is a hand wheel if having a screw-threaded hub through which passes the screw-rodu attached to the bracket 'v by a removable pin it. By rotating the hand-wheel t the end of the lever frame 8 may be moved back and forth on the screw-rod it.

The operation of these parts is as follows: The tube-closing plate 0 ordinarily stands in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and the rotatable cap I) may be operated as though the plate 0 were not present. When from any cause the rotatable cap 5 becomes incapable of rotation, as for example,when a tor pedo has failed to clear one of the discharge passages, then the plate 0 is given a forward movement by turning the hand wheel 25 in a direction such as to move the upper end of the lever frame 5 away from the bulkhead. After the plate 0 has cleared the gaskets e the locking pin or is removed and the handle 1 is thrown in the proper direction -to rotate the plate 0 into a position before the unobstructed tube, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. The

to le in u is then removed thereb allowat: P Y

ing a free fore and aft motion to the plate 0 and its supporting sleeve Z. If the rotatable cap I) is now caused to move toward the tube by the usual mechanism on the shaft (1, it will press the plate 0 firmly upon the rubber gasket e thereby closing the tube. The water may then be removed and a spare torpedo loaded. The reverse operation opens the tube and the torpedo may then be fired.

It will be understood that the plate 0 may be used to close either of the torpedo expulsion tubes when the other is obstructed, or it may be used to close them in succession if rotation of the cap I) is prevented by any cause other than the obstruction ol one tube. Furthermore, if by any cause, the reciprocation of the cap I) is prevented the plate 0 may be reciprocated by the hand-wheel t alone.

What I claim is:

1. In a torpedo-discharging apparatus, the combination with a plurality of torpedo expulsion tubes and a rotatable cap for opening and closing the discharge ends of said tubes, of a supplementary tube-closing plate, and mechanism for moving said plate to and from its closing position at will, substantially as described.

2. In a torpedo discharging apparatus, a plurality of torpedo expulsion tubes, a rotatable cap having covers and discharge passages alternately brought, by the rotation of the cap, into alinement with said tubes to close and open them, in combination with a supplementary tube-closing plate, and mechanism for moving said plate to and from its closing position at will, substantially as described.

3. 111 a torpedo discharging apparatus, a plurality of torpedo-expulsion tubes, a rotatable cap, having covers and discharge passages alternately brought, by the rotation of the cap, into alinement with said tubes to close and open them, and a shaft upon which said cap is secured, in combination with a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a supplementary tube-closing plate on said sleeve, and mechanism for turning said sleeve and plate, independently of the cap, to and from the closing position, substantially as described.

4. in a torpedo discharging apparatus, a plurality of torpedo expulsion tubes, a rotatable cap having covers and discharge passages alternately brought, by the rotation of the cap, into alinement with said tubes to close and open them, and a shaft upon which said cap is secured, said shaft being so mounted as to be capable of a slight longitudinal movement to disengage the cap from the ends of said tubes, in combination with a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a supplementary tube-closing plate on said sleeve between the cap and tubes, and mechanism for advancing said sleeve and turning it independently of said cap, to cause the sup lementary plate to clear the ends of said tu es and bring it to and from its closing position, substantially as described.

5.v In a torpedo discharging apparatus, a plurality of torpedo-expulsion tubes, a rotatable cap having covers and discharge passages alternately brought, by the rotation of the cap, into alinement with said tubes to close and open them, and a shaft upon which said cap is secured, in combination with a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a supplementary tube-closing plate on said sleeve, and mechanism for turning said sleeve and plate independently of the cap, to and from the closing position, said mechanism comprising a gear secured to-said sleeve, a second gear meshing therewith, a lever for turning said second gear, and a lock for said gears, substantially as described.

6. In a torpedo discharging apparatus, a plurality of torpedo expulsion tubes, a rotatable cap having covers and discharge passages alternately brought, by the rotation of the cap, into alinement with said tubes to close and open them, and a shaft upon which said cap is secured, said shaft being so mounted as to be capable of a slight longitudinal movement to disengage the cap from the ends of said tubes, in combination with a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a supplementary tubeclosing plate on said sleeve between the cap and tubes, and mechanism for advancing said sleeve and turning it independently of said cap, to cause the supplementary plate to clear the ends of said tubes and bring it to and from its closing position, said mechanism comprising a gear splined to said sleeve, a second gear meshing therewith, a lever for turning said second gear, a lock for said gears, and an advancing lever secured to said sleeve and fulcrumed on a stationary abutment, substantially as described.

7. Mechanism for closing the discharge opening of a torpedo expulsion tube, comprising a closing plate, a rotatable carrier for said plate supported beside the tube, a gear secured to the rotatable carrier, a second gear meshing therewith, a lever secured to the second gear for turning it, a stationary abutment in proximity to one of-said gears,

and a removable lock-pin engaging said gear and abutment, substantially as described.

8. Mechanism for closing the discharge opening of a torpedo-expulsion tube, comprising a closing plate, a rotatable carrier for said plate supported beside the tube, a gear secured to the rotatable carrier, a second gear meshing therewith, a lever secured to the second gear for turning it, and mechanism for advancing the carrier comprising a lever having afixed fulcrum and secured at one end to the carrier, a hand-wheel having a screw-threaded hub rotatably mounted at the other end of said lever, and a screw passing through said hub and detachably secured to a stationary bracket, substantially as described.

9. In a torpedo boat a plurality of torpedo expulsion tubes, a rotatable ca having covers and discharge passages alternately brought, by the rotation of the cap, into alinement with said tubes to close and open them, and a shaft upon which said cap is secured, said shaft being so mounted as to be capable of a slight longitudinal movement to disengage the cap from the ends of the said tubes, in combination with a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a supplementary tubeclosing plate 0 on said sleeve between the cap and tubes, mechanism for advancing said sleeve, comprising a lever frame 8 having a stationary fulcrum and secured at its lower end to a collar 3 on the said sleeve, a handwheel 25 having a screw-threaded hub rotatably mounted in the upper end of the lever frame 8, and a screw u passing through said hub and detachably securedto the bracket 41, and mechanism for turning the said sleeve independently of said cap comprising a gear segment a secured to the sleeve, a gear segment Q meshing with the segment n, a lever 1" secured to the segment Q for turning it and a locking pin 77/ extending through the segment ninto a socket in the stationary bracket 19, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

1 LA NRENCE Y. SPEAK. vWitnesses CHAS. D. YOUNG,

F. L. BRAKE. 

